It’s easy for me to get lost in the comfort of familiarity. Occasionally, I catch myself shying away from risks and the new horizons they bring. But as my K-12 education comes to an end, I’m faced with a choice—or rather, a necessity—to challenge my old beliefs and step into the unknown.

As a kid, I imagined my future through make-believe—roleplaying with Legos, Barbies and on Sims 4 alongside friends. In that world, conflict could be undone, characters could disappear and everything followed my script. Real life, on the contrary, doesn’t offer “undo” buttons. One thing has remained constant: the ever-changing nature of relationships.

Part of me is reluctant to turn the page—to begin the next chapter of college. My stubborn heart begs to stay in the boroughs forever, to stay submerged in normalcy. I don’t want to leave friends, family or my dog.

But change is inevitable.

The Girl Scouts song “Make New Friends” has grown on me over time. I may never need to tie bowline knots again, but the people I learned those lessons with have left an imprint on me I’ll carry forever.

Unlike kindergarten, there won’t be class lists released a week before college. I won’t be able to scan for familiar names to figure out where I fit in. However, it’s beautiful to have the ability to start fresh and discover new parts of my identity. The social skills I developed at age five still matter. You’ll outgrow clothes, hobbies and even people—but you never outgrow the need for connection.

My takeaway for you—whether you’re an underclassman or my grandparent reading this—is simple: Cherish the friendships you’ve built, but don’t let them limit your openness to forming new ones. Let your roots ground you, not confine you. And above all, carry old lessons with you as you step into new challenges—they’ll guide you.

I’d like to acknowledge high school’s obstacles. During freshman year, I was hesitant to attend Friday Night Lights games due to anxieties swarming my mind. Best believe this year has been polar opposite; my friends and I popped up to games bedazzled in Spirit Halloween costumes. To be candid and cliché: Challenge yourself (and be the radiance you once considered too loud).

I’ll remain polishing hometown friendships while allowing myself to open up, branch out and let new people in. Moving forward to gold doesn’t always mean letting go of silver. 

Sincerely,

Lila (who still hums elementary chorus songs and asks to pet dogs)